NUCLEAR POWER
▸ Bill to restart Yucca Mountain repository moves in Congress Legislation to push forward the long-delayed Yucca Mountain high-level nuclear waste repository in Nevada cleared the U.S. House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Committee on June 28. The bill (H.R. 3053) would restart the permitting process, which has been mired in politics and technical issues and was killed by the Obama Administration eight years ago. The measure would allow siting of interim waste storage—in a location not yet selected—if progress on the geologic repository is demonstrated and a final decision on its licensing is “imminent.” As approved by the committee 49-4, the bill would also prohibit seabed disposal and exempt Great Lakes states from nuclear waste storage. In addition, the measure would increase Yucca Mountain’s planned capacity from 70,000 to 110,000 metric tons of waste. Nevada’s congressional delegation opposes the bill. Members of the Energy & Commerce Committee, which includes no Nevada representatives, predict a more protracted debate as the bill advances to the Senate. The Trump Administration has proposed $120 million in funding to restart licensing of Yucca Mountain.—JEFF
JOHNSON, special to C&EN
INSTRUMENTATION
C R E D I T: S H UT T E RSTO CK
▸ Helium supply program reopens to academics ACS and the American Physical Society are seeking new participants for their collaboration to provide academics cheaper and more reliable access to liquid helium, which is important for some scientific instruments. A pilot project of the Liquid Helium Purchasing Program began in 2015, when the scientific societies partnered with the Defense Logistics Agency to provide helium for participants who receive federal funding. The program began with seven participants: Amherst College, Boise State University, Stanford University, the University of Memphis, the University of New Hampshire, West Texas A&M University, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. They reported
RESEARCH FUNDING
Basic research support declined in Canada, report says Canada needs to invest heavily in fundamental research or risk losing its place as a leader in innovation and discovery, a new report says. The analysis of Canada’s basic research investments comes from the Global Young Academy, an international society of young scientists. Canada’s overall investment in research and development has declined over the past decade, from 1.98% of gross domestic product in 2005 to 1.61% in 2014, the report points out. Basic research has been hardest hit. Success rates for grant applications at several major science funding agencies have fallen dramatically, including at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, which saw a decline from 28% in 2005 to 14% in 2015. Funding has also shifted from fundamental to applied research, leaving many basic research scientists with little government funding, the report says. A survey of 1,300 Canadian researchers shows how that lack of funding has forced many to move into more applied science. Between 2006 and 2010, 24% of respondents worked only on fundamental research. That fell to 1.6% for the period between 2011 and 2015.—ANDREA WIDENER
more reliable access to helium and average savings of approximately 15% on their helium costs. The program has since expanded to 12 institutions. Universities and colleges that are interested in joining the Liquid Helium Purchasing Program should answer the questionnaire on the program’s website, www.aps.org/policy/ issues/energy/helium/purchaseprogram. cfm, by July 21. Liquid helium prices and availability continue to be a concern after a June blockade of Qatar. That nation recently shut down a major helium production facility after its Middle Eastern neighbors cut off its supply lines.—AN-
DREA WIDENER
PESTICIDES
▸ Court directs EPA to assess chemical’s effects on endangered species In a win for environmental groups, a federal court found that U.S. EPA violated the law in 2014 when it approved the pesticide cyantraniliprole for use on citrus and blueberries. EPA claims the chemical poses a lower risk to mammals, birds, and fish than other alternatives used to combat citrus greening and an invasive fruit fly. In a
EPA violated the law when it approved the insecticide cyantraniliprole for use on blueberries and citrus fruit, a federal appeals court ruled. June 30 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that EPA failed to determine the effects of the insecticide on threatened native species and to consult with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service about such impacts. The court directed EPA to conduct the assessment and report to the court on its progress every six months. In the meantime, cyantraniliprole can remain on the market and continue being used. Environmental groups say the ruling is an important victory that will protect threatened butterflies and other imperiled pollinators. EPA found in 2013 that cyantraniliprole is “highly toxic or very highly toxic” to terrestrial invertebrates, including butterflies and beetles.—BRITT ERICKSON JULY 10, 2017 | CEN.ACS.ORG | C&EN
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